The VIVA Woman, who we've already learned is a svelte, fashionable chick with a passing interest in soft occultism who knows that shutting the fuck up is the way to a man's heart, is a person who seeks adventure. Primarily, adventure that ends with sexy results. At some point in their market research, the editors of VIVA agreed that Women Love Animals--which is really pretty true.
I think they were off on the degree to which most women love animals, however.
When I stumbled across the above letter to the editor, I assumed that this was some kind of one-off bit of looniness. Surely VIVA was not eroticizing bestiality! Then I saw the centerfold:
That, lieblings and liebchens, is NOT Photoshopped--it just had to be scanned in two pieces because it is a centerfold and my scanner wasn't large enough. A CENTERFOLD OF TWO LIONS HUMPING.
Mule sex and lion sex aside (which--really--is A LOT to put aside, in my estimation), why did they choose the picture of the sexy kitty to highlight the review on an erotic art coffee table book? I have plenty of erotic art coffee table books, and there are far, FAR more suitable illustrations to highlight than a portrait of an anthropomorphic cat prostitute. Holy Special Needs, kids...!
Tomorrow: VIVA on Fashion
13 comments:
Wow, those board game instructions are fairly arcane! And what's all this "players must not sit next to another player of the same sex"? I thought this was the swingin' 70s!
I'm a little confused as to the purpose of the money in the game--if a guy runs out of money, he just goes to the bank and gets more (there is no stated limit on withdrawals), and if the woman gets over $500, she has to put it all in the bank and go back to nothing. On the other hand, if there was no exchange of currency, I guess it wouldn't be much like whoring.
I'm *dying* to know what's on the "Action" cards, though! Also, I have to give props to a board game that has a designated "Drink" square. The specification of "shot of orange juice" just seems like legal CYA.
As to the Sexay Lions, I really don't know what to say--except pls to see the "Someone, Somewhere" rule.
Bast is pretty hot, however.
Vicar, I'm pretty sure the game is meant as a subtle send-up of the difference in earnings between men and women at the time, and is an endorsement of the Equal Rights Amendment. Either that or its hideously sexist and makes me want to weep tears of blood. FYI--I found a couple in-good-condition versions of Xaviera's Game on eBay. We should TOTALLY buy one--you, Costuminatrix, Prof. Jack and Joan Arkham could swing by the Apartment of Erotic Horror and we could all drink OJ together and get CRAZY!
Do the game pieces come in amusing shapes like they do with Monopoly? And what kind of shapes would they be for this particular board game?
Wait, I take that last question back. I'm not sure I want to know.
Also, word verification: "comer."
No further comment necessary.
A hideously sexist game based on the life and business of a Happy Hooker? Say it ain't so! ;)
The WouldRatherReadThanPlay Zone bibliographically notes:
The ALBERT REISS Cat Hooka painting is entitled
RECONTRE, LA NUIT(Encounter at Night). The book we have it in (at the art school's liberry where i work) is called
EROTIC ART OF THE MASTERS (The 18th, 19th & 20th Centuries) by Bradley Smith. Introduction by Henry Miller. Published by the Erotic Book Society (New York).
No ISBN but i'm suwah *YOU* could find a copy on half.com, Bookfinder, ABE etc.
It's out for general "circulation" *here* at this higher place...of "learning" ;D
Jack, I regret to tell you that the game actually looks pretty boring. Kind of like Parcheesi, but with slightly more drinking and innuendo. Bummer :(
Vicar, I sense you are being sarcastic... could this be the case...? UNPOSSIBLE!
Aaaand Joey "Da Scholah" Zone chimes in with an informative little tidbit! Thanks for that, sir. I knew I'd seen that piece before, but couldn't for the LIFE of me remember where. You rock (as always)!
The ScholarlyFollowUppe Zone rejoinders in frustration:
i have been l00king all over for Reiss online, let alone a picture o' feline h00ka to share *in colour* but alas...=/
Joey, cupcake--I'll see if I can find a pic somewhere in my collection. Not sure if it's in color, but I will do my best to seek it out. For you--and only you--entirely out of laaaahve.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...furries ruin EVERYTHING.
(Also, Blogspot seems to have eaten my witty quotes from the past two entires. Suffice it to say I am loving this in-depth antthropological study.)
Word verification is "covenies". Pronounced CO-venies, I'm sure.
I met Ms Hollander some 30 years back, when I was working PR for the Quebec City Book Fair. In private, she was classy, sweet and very funny. When she stepped onstage for a panel, she'd put on a Mae West 'Come up and see me sometime' act.
I like her a lot.
Joan, I am heartbroken that Blogger is eating your replies!!!! Dammit, what good is this system if you--one of the people I knew would appreciate this the most--are not able to respond. Feh and curses. As to furries--at least this one has good tits. And only one pair, which is somewhat less disturbing.
Pierre, that is so awesome! I'm really smiling to know that Xaviera Hollander was a charmer. She's such an interesting figure and her influence went a long way towards raising the visibility of sex workers (and sex positive women in general) from the "drug-addicted, abuse victim, street walking prostitute" stereotype. The world needs more Xavieras :)
If go forward with your purchase of Xaviera's game, I got dibs on her trademark penis lipstick playing piece. I can't believe I was wasting time playing Strat-o-matic baseball back in the mid to late 70s when I could have been wasting my time playing Xaviera's game. I'm just wonder if they had a solitaire version?
Post a Comment